Exhibit 3.2
Bylaws of Eex Corporation
a Texas corporation
PURPOSE AND SCOPE OF BYLAWS
These Bylaws shall constitute the private laws of EEX CORPORATION, a
corporation duly incorporated under the laws of the State of Texas (herein
called the "Company"), for the administration and regulation of the affairs of
the Company.
In the event any provision of these Bylaws is or may be in conflict with
any applicable law of the United States or the State of Texas, or of any order,
rule, regulation, decree or judgment of any governmental body or power or court
having jurisdiction over the Company, or over the subject matter to which such
provision of these Bylaws applies or may apply, such provision of these Bylaws
shall be inoperative to the extent only that the operation thereof unavoidably
conflicts with such law or order, rule, regulation, decree or judgment, and
shall in all other respects be in full force and effect.
ARTICLE I
Offices
Section 1. The registered office of the Company shall be at such place in
the State of Texas, and the registered agent of the Company at the registered
office shall be such person or corporation as the Board of Directors may from
time to time designate.
Section 2. The Company may also have offices at such other places both
within and without the State of Texas as the Board of Directors may from time to
time determine or the business of the Company may require.
ARTICLE II
Meetings of Shareholders
Section 1. All meetings of the shareholders shall be held at the
registered office of the Company or at such other place either within or without
the State of Texas as shall be designated from time to time by the Board of
Directors.
Section 2. The annual meeting of shareholders shall be held at such hour
and on such date in May of each year as the Board of Directors may from time to
time designate for the purpose of the election of Directors and the transaction
of such other business as may properly be brought before the meeting.
Section 3. Special meetings of the shareholders may only be called by the
Chairman of the
Board or the President, at the request in writing or by vote of not less than a
majority of the Continuing Directors (as defined in Article Ten of the Restated
Articles of Incorporation of the Company) of the Board of Directors, or the
holders of not less than 50% of all the outstanding shares entitled to vote at
the meetings, and not by any other persons. Business transacted at all special
meetings shall be confined to the subjects stated in the notice of meeting.
Section 4. Written or printed notice stating the place, day and hour of
the meeting, and, in case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes for
which the meeting is called, shall be delivered not less than ten (10) nor more
than sixty (60) days before the date of the meeting, either personally or by
mail, by or at the direction of the Chairman, the Corporate Secretary, or the
officer or person calling the meeting, to each shareholder of record entitled to
vote at such meeting. If mailed, such notice shall be deemed to be delivered
when deposited in the United States mail addressed to the shareholder at his
address as it appears on the stock transfer books of the Company, with postage
thereon prepaid.
Section 5. The officer or agent having charge of the stock transfer books
for shares of the Company shall make, at least ten (10) days before each meeting
of shareholders, a complete list of the shareholders entitled to vote at such
meeting or any adjournment thereof, arranged in alphabetical order, with the
address of and the number of shares held by each, which list, for a period of
ten (10) days prior to such meeting, shall be kept on file at the registered
office of the Company and shall be subject to inspection by any shareholder at
any time during usual business hours. Such list shall also be produced and kept
open at the time and place of the meeting and shall be subject to the inspection
of any shareholder during the whole time of the meeting. The original stock
transfer books shall be prima-facie evidence as to who are the shareholders
entitled to examine such list or transfer books or to vote at any meeting of
shareholders.
Section 6. The holders of a majority of the shares issued and outstanding
and entitled to vote thereat, present in person or represented by written proxy,
shall constitute a quorum at all meetings of the shareholders for the
transaction of business. If, however, such quorum shall not be present or
represented at any meeting of the shareholders, the shareholders entitled to
vote thereat, present in person or represented by proxy, shall have power to
adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than announcement at
the meeting, until a quorum shall be present or represented. At such adjourned
meeting at which a quorum shall be present or represented any business may be
transacted which might have been transacted at the meeting as originally
notified.
Section 7. Each outstanding share, of any class, shall be entitled to as
many votes per share as the Articles of Incorporation shall provide, on each
matter submitted to a vote at a meeting of shareholders, except to the extent
that the voting rights of the shares of any class or classes are limited or
denied by the Articles of Incorporation or these Bylaws. The vote for the
election of Directors and, upon demand by any shareholder, the vote upon any
question before the meeting shall be by ballot. Cumulative voting is expressly
prohibited.
Section 8. At any meeting of the holders, every shareholder having the
right to vote shall be entitled to vote in person or by proxy executed in
writing by such shareholder or by his duly
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As amended February 20, 2002
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authorized attorney-in-fact. No proxy shall be valid after eleven (11) months
from the date of its execution unless otherwise provided in the proxy. All
proxies shall be revocable unless expressly provided therein to be irrevocable
and are coupled with an interest and shall be filed with the Corporate Secretary
of the Company prior to or at the time of the meeting at which they are to be
voted.
Section 9. When a quorum is present at any meeting, matters brought before
the meeting shall be determined by the shareholders in the following manner: (a)
with respect to any matter, other than the election of Directors or a matter for
which the affirmative vote of a specified portion of the shares entitled to vote
is required by the statutes or the Articles of Incorporation, the act of the
shareholders shall be the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the
shares entitled to vote on, and voted for or against, that matter at a meeting
of shareholders at which a quorum is present and (b) with respect to the
election of Directors, the act of the shareholders electing the Directors shall
be a majority of all outstanding shares entitled to vote in the election of
Directors, unless in each case the question is one upon which, by express
provision of the statutes or of the Articles of Incorporation or of these
Bylaws, a different vote is required, in which case such express provision shall
govern and control the decision of such question. The shareholders present at a
duly organized meeting may continue to transact business until adjournment,
notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough shareholders to leave less than a
quorum.
Section 10. The Chairman shall preside at all meetings of the
shareholders. In his absence, the President or an officer of the Company
designated by the Board of Directors shall preside and perform the duties of the
Chairman at such meeting. He shall appoint two inspectors of voting to serve at
each such meeting. Before acting at any meeting, the inspectors shall be sworn
faithfully to execute their duties with strict impartiality and according to the
best of their ability. The inspectors shall determine the number of shares
outstanding, the voting power of each, the shares represented at the meeting,
the existence of a quorum, the qualification of the voters, the authenticity,
validity and effect of proxies, receive votes and ballots, hear and determine
all challenges and questions in any way arising in connection with the vote,
count and tabulate all votes and determine and announce the result of the
voting.
Section 11. At an annual meeting of the shareholders, only such business
shall be conducted as shall have been properly brought before the meeting. To be
properly brought before an annual meeting, business must be specified in the
notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto) given by or at the direction of
the Board, otherwise properly brought before the meeting by or at the direction
of the Board, or otherwise properly brought before the meeting by a shareholder.
In addition to any other applicable requirements, for business to be properly
brought before an annual meeting by a shareholder, the shareholder must have
given timely notice thereof in writing to the Corporate Secretary. To be timely,
a shareholder's notice must be delivered to or mailed and received at the
principal executive offices of the Company, not less than fifty (50) days nor
more than seventy-five (75) days prior to the meeting; provided, however, that
in the event that less than sixty-five (65) days' notice or prior public
disclosure of the date of the meeting is given or made to shareholders, notice
by the shareholder to be timely must be so received not later than the close of
business on the 15th day following the day on which such notice of the date of
the annual meeting was mailed or
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As amended February 20, 2002
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such public disclosure was made. A shareholder's notice to the Corporate
Secretary shall set forth as to each matter the shareholder proposes to bring
before the annual meeting (i) a brief description of the business desired to be
brought before the annual meeting and the reasons for conducting such business
at the annual meeting, (ii) the name and record address of the shareholder
proposing such business, (iii) the class and number of shares of the Company
which are beneficially owned by the shareholder, and (iv) any material interest
of the shareholder in such business.
Notwithstanding anything in these Bylaws to the contrary, no business shall
be conducted at the annual meeting except in accordance with the procedures set
forth in this Section 11; provided, however, that nothing in this Section 11
shall be deemed to preclude discussion by any shareholder of any business
properly brought before the annual meeting in accordance with said procedure.
The chairman of an annual meeting shall, if the facts warrant, determine
and declare to the meeting that business was not properly brought before the
meeting in accordance with the provisions of this Section 11, and if he should
so determine, he shall so declare to the meeting and any such business not
properly brought before the meeting shall not be transacted.
Section 12. Only persons who are nominated in accordance with the
following procedures shall be eligible for election as Directors. Nominations of
persons for election to the Board of Directors of the Company may be made at a
meeting of shareholders by or at the direction of the Board of Directors by any
nominating committee or person appointed by the Board or by any shareholder of
the Company entitled to vote for the election of Directors at the meeting who
complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 12. Such
nominations, other than those made by or at the direction of the Board, shall be
made pursuant to timely notice in writing to the Corporate Secretary. To be
timely, a shareholder's notice shall be delivered to or mailed and received at
the principal executive offices of the Company not less than fifty (50) days nor
more than seventy-five (75) days prior to the meeting; provided, however, that
in the event that less than sixty-five (65) days' notice or prior public
disclosure of the date of the meeting is given or made to shareholders, notice
by the shareholder to be timely must be so received not later than the close of
business on the 15th day following the date on which such notice of the date of
the meeting was mailed or such public disclosure was made. Such shareholder's
notice to the Corporate Secretary shall set forth (a) as to each person whom the
shareholder proposes to nominate for election or re-election as a Director, (i)
the name, age, business address and residence address of the person, (ii) the
principal occupation or employment of the person, (iii) the class and number of
shares of capital stock of the Company which are beneficially owned by the
person, and (iv) any other information relating to the person that is required
to be disclosed in solicitations for proxies for election of Directors pursuant
to Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as amended; and (b)
as to the shareholder giving the notice (i) the name and record address of
shareholder and (ii) the class and number of shares of capital stock of the
Company which are beneficially owned by the shareholder. The Company may require
any proposed nominee to furnish such other information as may reasonably be
required by the Company to determine the eligibility of such proposed nominee to
serve as Director of the Company. No person shall be eligible for election as a
Director of the Company unless nominated in accordance with the procedures set
forth herein.
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As amended February 20, 2002
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The chairman of the meeting shall, if the facts warrant, determine and
declare to the meeting that a nomination was not made in accordance with the
foregoing procedure, and if he should so determine, he shall so declare to the
meeting and the defective nomination shall be disregarded.
ARTICLE III
Directors
Section 1. The powers of the Company shall be exercised under the
authority of, and the business and affairs of the Company shall be managed under
the direction of, its Board of Directors who may do all such lawful acts and
things as are not by statute or by the Articles of Incorporation or by these
Bylaws directed or required to be exercised or done by the shareholders.
Section 2. The number of Directors constituting the board of Directors of
the Company shall be fixed from time to time by the Board of Directors by the
affirmative vote of not less than a majority of the Continuing Directors (as
defined in Article Ten of the Restated Articles of Incorporation of the
Company), but shall not be less than three (3), subject to such rights to elect
additional Directors under such specified circumstances as may be granted to
holders of Preferred Stock. Directors need not be shareholders or residents of
the State of Texas. A person shall be ineligible to be a Director of the
Company after the date of the annual meeting of shareholders of the Company that
occurs after such person's seventy-second birthday. Unless he shall resign or
become ineligible, each Director shall hold office until his successors shall be
elected and shall qualify.
The Directors shall be classified with respect to the time for which they
shall severally hold office by dividing them into three classes, which classes
shall consist of an equal, or as near to equal as possible, number of Directors.
At the 1998 annual meeting of shareholders, the Director or Directors of the
first class shall be elected for a term expiring at the next annual meeting of
shareholders to be held in 1999; the Director or Directors of the second class
shall be elected for a term expiring at the next annual meeting of shareholders
to be held in 2000; and the Director or Directors of the third class shall be
elected for a term expiring at the next annual meeting of shareholders to be
held in 2001. At each annual meeting, commencing with the annual meeting in
1998, the successor or successors to the class of directors whose term shall
expire in that year shall be elected to hold office for the term of three years,
so that the term of one class of Directors shall expire in each year. Any
increase or decrease in the number of Directors constituting the Board of
Directors shall be apportioned among the classes so as to maintain the number of
directors in each class as near as possible to one-third the whole number of
Directors as so adjusted.
Section 3. Any Director may resign at any time either by oral tender of
resignation at any meeting of the Board of Directors or by giving written notice
thereof to the Corporate Secretary. Resignations shall take effect when tendered
or at the time specified in the tender and, unless otherwise specified, the
acceptance of a resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.
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As amended February 20, 2002
Page 5 of 17
Section 4. Any Director may be removed only for cause at any special
meeting of the shareholders by the affirmative vote of the holders of record of
not less than 66-2/3% of the shares then entitled to vote at an election of
Directors, if notice of the intention is act upon such matter shall have been
given in the notice calling for such meeting. Any vacancy occurring in the Board
of Directors shall be filled by the affirmative vote of a majority of the
remaining Directors even though such remaining Directors shall be less than a
quorum of the Board of Directors; provided that the Board of Directors may not
fill more than two such directorships between annual meetings of shareholders. A
Director elected to fill a vacancy shall hold office for the remaining term of
the class to which such directorship is assigned. Any directorship to be filled
by reason of an increase in the number of Directors as provided in Section 2
hereof shall be filled solely by the affirmative vote of not less than a
majority of the continuing Directors for a term of office continuing until the
next annual meeting of shareholders.
Section 5. The Board of Directors, by resolution adopted by a majority of
the full Board of Directors, may designate from among its members one or more
committees, each of which shall be comprised of one or more of its members, and
may designate one or more of its members as alternate members of any committee,
who may, subject to any limitations imposed by the Board of Directors, replace
absent or disqualified members at any meeting of that committee. Any such
committee, to the extent provided in such resolutions or in the Articles of
Incorporation or the Bylaws, shall have and may exercise all of the authority of
the Board of Directors, provided that no committee of the Board of Directors
shall have the authority of the Board of Directors in reference to: (1) amending
the Articles of Incorporation, except that a committee may, to the extent
provided in the resolution designating that committee or in the Articles of
Incorporation or the Bylaws, exercise the authority of the Board of Directors
vested in it in accordance with Article 2.13 of the Texas Business Corporation
Act ("Act"); (2) proposing a reduction of the stated capital of the Company in
the manner permitted by Article 4.12 of the Act; (3) approving a plan of merger
or share exchange of the Company; (4) recommending to the shareholders the sale,
lease, or exchange of all or substantially all of the property and assets of the
Company otherwise than in the usual and regular course of its business; (5)
recommending to the shareholders a voluntary dissolution of the Company or a
revocation thereof, (6) amending, altering, or repealing the Bylaws of the
Company or adopting new Bylaws of the Company; (7) filling vacancies in the
Board of Directors; (8) filling vacancies in or designating alternate members of
any such committee; (9) filling any directorship to be filled by reason of an
increase in the number of Directors; (10) electing or removing officers of the
Company or members or alternate members of any such committee; (11) fixing the
compensation of any member o alternate members of such committee; or (12)
altering or repealing any resolution of the Board of Directors that by its terms
provides that it shall not be so amendable or repealable; and, unless such
resolution designating a particular committee, the Articles of Incorporation, or
the Bylaws expressly so provide, no committee of the Board of Directors shall
have the authority to authorize a distribution or to authorize the issuance of
shares of the Company.
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As amended February 20, 2002
Page 6 of 17
MEETINGS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Section 6. The Directors of the Company may hold their meetings, both
regular and special, either within or without the State of Texas.
Section 7. The first meeting of each newly elected Board of Directors
shall be held without further notice immediately following the annual meeting of
shareholders, and at the same place, unless by unanimous consent of the
Directors then elected and serving such time or place shall be changed.
Section 8. Regular meetings of the Board of Directors may be held with or
without notice at such time and place as shall from time to time be determined
by the Board of Directors.
Section 9. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called on
twenty-four (24) hours' notice to each Director, or such shorter period of time
as the person calling the meeting deems appropriate in the circumstances, either
personally, or by mail, or by telegram; special meetings shall be called by the
Chairman or, in the event of the inability of the Chairman to act, the President
or the Corporate Secretary in like manner and on like notice on the written
request of two Directors. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the
purpose of, any special meeting need be specified in a notice or waiver of
notice.
Section 10. At all meetings of the Board of Directors, the presence of a
majority of the number of Directors constituting the Board of Directors shall
constitute a quorum for the transaction of business and the act of a majority of
the Directors present at any meeting at which there is a quorum shall be the act
of the Board of Directors. Any action required or permitted to be taken at a
meeting of the Board of Directors may be taken without a meeting if a consent in
writing, setting forth the action so taken, is signed by all members of the
Board of Directors. If a quorum shall not be present at any meeting of the
Directors, the Directors present thereat may adjourn the meeting from time to
time, without notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum is
present.
Section 11. The Board of Directors shall have authority to establish, from
time to time, the amount of compensation which shall be paid to its members for
their services as Directors.
ARTICLE IV
Notices
Section 1. Whenever under the provisions of the statutes or of the
Articles of Incorporation or of these Bylaws, notice is required to be given to
any Director or shareholder, and no provision is made as to how such notice
shall be given, it shall not be construed to mean notice, but any such notice
may be given in writing, by mail, postage prepaid, addressed to such Director or
shareholder at such address as appears on the books of the Company. Any notice
required or permitted to be
Bylaws of EEX Corporation
As amended February 20, 2002
Page 7 of 17
given by mail shall be deemed to be given at the time when the same shall be
thus deposited in the United States mails as aforesaid.
Section 2. Whenever any notice is required to be given to any shareholder
or Director of the Company under the provisions of the statutes or of the
Articles of Incorporation, or of these Bylaws, a waiver thereof in writing
signed by the person or persons entitled to such notice, whether before or after
the time stated in such notice, shall be equivalent to the giving of such
notice. Attendance of a Director at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of
notice of such meeting, except when a Director attends a meeting for the express
purpose, in writing filed at the meeting, of objecting to the transaction of any
business on the grounds that the meeting is not lawfully called or held.
ARTICLE V
Officers
Section 1. The officers of the Company shall be a Chairman, a President,
one or more Executive Vice Presidents, Senior Vice Presidents or Vice
Presidents, a General Counsel, a Controller, a Corporate Secretary and a
Treasurer, all of whom shall be elected by the Board of Directors. Any two or
more offices may be held by the same person. Each such officer shall have such
authority and perform such duties in the management of the Company as may be
determined by resolution of the Board of Directors.
Section 2. The Board of Directors may elect or appoint such other officers
and agents as it shall deem necessary, who shall hold their offices for such
term and who shall have such authority and perform such duties as may be
prescribed by the Board of Directors or the Chairman. The power to appoint such
other officers and agents may be delegated by the Board of Directors to the
Chairman to the extent the Board may delineate by resolution.
Section 3. Each officer of the Company shall hold office until his
successor is chosen and qualified in his stead or until his death or until his
resignation, retirement or removal from office. Any officer or agent elected or
appointed by the Board of Directors may be removed by the Board of Directors
whenever in its judgment the best interests of the Company will be served
thereby, but such removal shall be without prejudice to the contract rights, if
any, of the person so removed. Election or appointment of an officer or agent
shall not of itself create contract rights.
Section 4. The Chairman shall be the chief executive officer of the
Company. He shall, subject to the direction and control of the Board of
Directors, be their representative and medium of communication. He shall see
that all orders, resolutions and policies adopted by the Board of Directors are
carried into effect. He shall preside at all meetings of shareholders and at all
meetings of the Board of Directors. He shall be in complete charge with
attendant responsibility and accountability of the entire Company and its
affairs.
Section 5. The President shall be the chief operating officer of the
Company. He shall,
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As amended February 20, 2002
Page 8 of 17
subject to the direction of the Chairman, have responsibility for such
operations and functions assigned to him; and in the absence of the Chairman,
shall preside at all meetings of the shareholders and at all meetings of the
Board of Directors.
Section 6. Each Executive Vice President shall have such powers and
responsibilities, and shall perform such duties, as delineated by the Board or
by the Chairman. They shall be directly responsible to such officer as the
Chairman may from time to time prescribe.
Section 7. The Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, shall have
such powers and responsibilities and shall perform such duties, as delineated by
the Board of Directors or by the Chairman. He shall be responsible to the
Chairman in said performance.
Section 8. Other Senior Vice Presidents shall have such powers and
responsibilities, and shall perform such duties, as delineated by the Board or
by the Chairman. They shall be directly responsible to such officer as the
Chairman may from time to time prescribe.
Section 9. The General Counsel shall have general control over all matters
of a legal nature concerning the Company and shall perform such duties as
delineated by the Board or by the Chairman. He shall be directly responsible to
the Chairman in said performance.
Section 10. Each Vice President shall have such powers and
responsibilities, and shall perform such duties, as may be delineated by the
Board or the Chairman. They shall be directly responsible to such officer as the
Chairman may from time to time prescribe.
Section 11. The Controller shall be in general control of the accounts of
the Company, shall be responsible for the making of adequate audits, shall
prepare and interpret required accounting, financial and statistical statements,
and shall be directly responsible to such officer and perform such other duties
as the Board or Chairman may from time to time prescribe.
Section 12. The Corporate Secretary shall attend all meetings of the Board
of Directors and shareholders and act as secretary thereof and shall record all
votes and the minutes of all proceedings of the Board of Directors and
shareholders in a book for that purpose maintained and kept in his custody. He
shall keep in his custody the seal of the Company and shall in general perform
all the duties incident to the office of Secretary of a Company. He shall act as
Transfer Agent of the Company and/or Registrar of its capital stock and other
securities; provided that the Board of Directors may by resolution appoint one
or more other persons or corporations as Transfer Agents and/or Registrars or as
Co-Transfer Agents and/or Co-Registrars. He shall be directly responsible to
such officer and shall perform such other duties as the Board or Chairman may
from time to time prescribe.
Section 13. The Treasurer shall have custody of all the funds and
securities of the Company and shall keep full and accurate accounts of receipts
and disbursements. He may endorse checks, notes and other obligations on behalf
of the Company for collection and shall deposit the same, together with all
monies and other valuable effects, to the credit of the Company in banks or
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As amended February 20, 2002
Page 9 of 17
depositories as the Board of Directors may designate by resolution or as may be
established in accordance with Article VIII of these Bylaws. He shall be
directly responsible to such officer as the Chairman may from time to time
designate and shall perform all duties incident to the office of Treasurer of a
Company or as the Board or Chairman shall designate.
Section 14. The Board of Directors may appoint one or more Assistant
Corporate Secretaries, Assistant Treasurers and Assistant Controllers and such
other appointive officers as may be appropriate and required. They shall be
directly responsible to such officer and shall perform such duties as the Board
or Chairman may from time to time designate.
ARTICLE VI
Certificates Representing Shares
Section 1. The shares of stock of the Company shall be deemed personal
estate, and shall be transferable only on the books of the Company in such
manner as these Bylaws prescribe.
Section 2. Every shareholder in the Company shall be entitled to have a
certificate or certificates representing the number of shares owned by him. The
certificates of shares of stock of the Company shall be numbered and shall be
entered in the books of the Company as they are issued. They shall exhibit the
holder's name and number of shares, and shall be signed by the Chairman, the
President or a Vice President, and the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer and
bear the corporate seal; but the signatures of such officers and the seal of the
Company upon such certificates may be facsimiles, engraved or printed where such
certificate is signed by a duly authorized Transfer Agent or Co-Transfer Agent
and a Registrar or Co-Registrar.
Section 3. The Board of Directors may make such rules and regulations as
it may deem expedient concerning the issue, transfer, conversion, and
registration of certificates for shares of the capital stock of the Company.
Section 4. The Board of Directors may direct a new certificate
representing shares to be issued in place of any certificate theretofore issued
by the Company alleged to have been lost or destroyed, upon the making of an
affidavit of that fact by the person claiming the certificate to be lost or
destroyed. When authorizing such issue of a new certificate, the Board of
Directors, in its discretion and as a condition precedent to the issuance
thereof, may require the owner of such lost or destroyed certificate, or his
legal representative, to advertise the same in such manner as it shall require
and/or give the Company a bond in such form, in such sum, and with such surety
or sureties as it may direct as indemnity against any claim that may be made
against the Company and its Transfer Agents and Registrars and its Co-Transfer
Agents and Co-Registrars with respect to the certificate alleged to have been
lost or destroyed.
Section 5. Transfers of shares of stock shall be made on the books of the
Company only by the person named in the certificate or by attorney, lawfully
constituted in writing, and upon surrender
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As amended February 20, 2002
Page 10 of 17
of the certificate therefor.
Section 6. The Board of Directors may close the stock transfer books of
the Company for a period not to exceed sixty (60) days for the purpose of
determining shareholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of
shareholders or any adjournment thereof, or entitled to receive payment of any
distribution and share dividend, or in order to make a determination of
shareholders for any purpose, provided that if such books shall be closed for
the purpose of determining shareholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a
shareholders' meeting, such books shall be closed for at least ten (10) days
immediately preceding such meeting. In lieu of so closing the stock transfer
books, the Board of Directors may fix a date in advance, not exceeding sixty
(60) days preceding the date of any meeting of shareholders, or the date for the
payment of any distribution and share dividend or the date for the allotment of
rights, or the date when any change or conversion or exchange of capital stock
shall go into effect, as a record date for the respective determination of the
shareholders entitled to notice of, and to vote at, any such meeting, or
entitled to receive payment of any such distribution and share dividend, or to
any such allotment of rights, or to exercise rights in respect of any such
change, conversion or exchange of capital stock and in such case such
shareholders and only such shareholders as shall be shareholders of record on
the date so fixed shall be entitled to such notice of, and to vote at, such
meeting, or to receive payment of such distribution and share dividend, or to
receive such allotment of rights, or to exercise such rights, as the case may
be, notwithstanding any transfer of any shares of stock on the books of the
Company after any such record date fixed as aforesaid. In the absence of any
designation with respect thereto by the Board of Directors, the date upon which
the notice of a meeting is mailed or resolutions declaring a distribution and
share dividend are adopted shall be the record date for such determination in
regard to meetings of shareholders or declarations of distributions and share
dividends.
Section 7. The Company shall be entitled to treat the holder of record of
any share or of stock as the holder in fact thereof and, accordingly, shall not
be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such share
on the part of any other person, whether or not it shall have express or other
notice thereof, save as expressly provided by the laws of Texas.
Section 8. Bonds, debentures and other evidence of indebtedness of the
Company shall be signed by the Chairman, the President or any Vice President and
the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer and shall bear the corporate seal and
when so executed shall be binding upon the Company, but not otherwise. The seal
of the Company thereon may be facsimile, engraved or printed, and where any such
bond, debenture or other evidence of indebtedness is authenticated with the
manual signature of an authorized officer of the Company or trustee appointed or
named by an indenture of trust or other agreement under which such security is
issued, the signature of any of the Company's officers authorized to execute
such security may be facsimile.
Section 9. In case any officer who signed, or whose facsimile signature
has been placed on any certificate representing shares of stock, bond, debenture
or evidence of indebtedness of this Company shall cease to be an officer of the
Company for any reason before the same has been issued or delivered by the
Company, such certificate, bond, debenture or evidence of indebtedness may
nevertheless be issued and delivered as though the person who signed it or whose
facsimile signature
Bylaws of EEX Corporation
As amended February 20, 2002
Page 11 of 17
had been placed thereon had not ceased to be such officer.
ARTICLE VII
Deeds and Other Instruments of Conveyance
Section 1. Deeds and other instruments of the Company conveying land or
any interest in land shall be signed by the Chairman, the President or a Vice
President or attorney-in-fact of the Company when authorized by appropriate
resolution of the Board of Directors or shareholders, and when required by law,
shall be attested by the Corporate Secretary or an Assistant Corporate Secretary
and shall bear the corporate seal, and when so executed shall be binding upon
the Company, but not otherwise.
ARTICLE VIII
Checks, Drafts and Bills of Exchange
Section 1. The Chairman or the President of the Company may from time to
time establish General Bank Accounts, Depository Bank Accounts, and such Special
Bank Accounts as in the judgment of either of them may be needed in carrying on
and dispatching the business of the Company. All checks, drafts and bills of
exchange issued in the name of the Company and calling for the payment of money
out of said General Accounts, Depository Accounts, or Special Accounts of the
Company shall be signed by the Controller or Assistant Controller, or such
agents and employees as the Chairman or the President may from time to time
designate and authorize to sign for the Controller, and countersigned by the
Treasurer or any Assistant Treasurer, or such agents and employees as the
Chairman or the President may from time to time designate and authorize to sign
for the Treasurer; and when so designated by the Chairman or the President, the
signature of the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer may be affixed by the use
of a check-signing machine; provided that for the purpose of transferring funds
from any bank or depository at which the Company has funds on deposit to any
other bank or depository of the Company for credit to the Company's account, a
form of check having plainly printed upon its face "DEPOSITORY TRANSFER CHECK,"
and being by its wording payable to a bank or depository for credit to the
account of the Company, is hereby authorized, and such checks shall require no
signature other than the name of the Company printed at the lower right corner;
and further provided that checks, drafts and bills of exchange issued in the
name of the Company in the amount of $25,000.00 or less need bear only one
signature and that being the signature of the Treasurer or an Assistant
Treasurer, affixed either manually or by the use of a check-signing machine, or
the manual signature of such agents and employees as the Chairman or the
President may from time to time designate and authorize to sign for the
Treasurer; and provided further that checks and drafts issued in the name of the
Company and calling for the payment of production revenue or royalties need bear
only one signature and that being the signature of the Treasurer or an Assistant
Treasurer, affixed either manually or by the use of a check-signing machine, or
the manual signature of such agents and employees as the Chairman
Bylaws of EEX Corporation
As amended February 20, 2002
Page 12 of 17
or the President may from time to time designate and authorize to sign for the
Treasurer; and provided further that checks and drafts issued in the name of the
Company and calling for payment of money out of Special Bank Accounts
established for the payment of dividends need bear only one signature and that
being the signature of the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer, affixed either
manually or by the use of a check-signing machine, or the manual signature of
such agents and employees as the Chairman or the President may from time to time
designate and authorize to sign for the Treasurer; and further provided that no
person authorized to sign checks or drafts may sign a check or draft payable to
himself. When in such applicable manner, but not otherwise, every check, draft
or bill of exchange issued in the name of the Company and calling for the
payment of money out of the General Bank Accounts, Depository Bank Accounts, and
Special Bank Accounts of the Company shall be valid and enforceable according to
its wording, tenor and effect, but not otherwise. Provided, however, that for
the purpose of transferring funds between accounts of the Company, from accounts
of the Company to accounts of subsidiaries and affiliates, from accounts of the
Company for the purpose of investment of corporate funds, and from accounts of
the Company for the payment of dividends, the Treasurer or an Assistant
Treasurer, or such agents and employees as the Chairman or the President may
from time to time designate and authorize, may make such transfer of funds by
bank wire transfers through oral or written instructions; and for the purpose of
transferring funds from accounts of the Company to accounts of other third
parties, the Company may make such transfers by electronic funds transfer,
irrespective of amount, when authorized by oral, computer-generated or written
instructions which are given by any two of the Treasurer, an Assistant
Treasurer, the Controller, an Assistant Controller, or such other agents or
employees as the Chairman and President may from time to time authorize to act
for the Treasurer or Controller.
Section 2. The Treasurer of the Company may establish special bank
accounts designated as Agent's Account in such bank or banks as in his judgment
may be needed in carrying on and dispatching the business of the Company,
provided that the Treasurer in establishing and maintaining such accounts shall
keep only such funds therein and in such amount as may be required for the local
needs of such accounts and provided that checks or drafts issued against or
drawn on such accounts shall be valid and binding on the Company according to
their wording, tenor and effect when signed by either the Treasurer of the
Company or by such agent or employee of the Company as may be designated by the
Treasurer in writing to such bank or when signed in such manner and by such
agent or employee of the Company as may be designated by the Chairman or the
President of the Company; and further provided that checks and drafts issued in
the name of the Company against funds in such Agent's Account in the amount of
$1,000.00 or more must be countersigned by two persons authorized to sign such
checks or drafts.
ARTICLE IX
Fiscal Year
Section 1. The fiscal year shall begin on the first day of January in each
year.
Bylaws of EEX Corporation
As amended February 20, 2002
Page 13 of 17
ARTICLE X
Distributions and Share Dividends
Section 1. Distributions and share dividends upon the outstanding shares
of the Company, subject to the provisions of the Articles of Incorporation, if
any, may be declared by the Board of Directors at any regular or special
meeting. Distributions may be paid in cash or property, and share dividends may
be paid in shares of the authorized but unissued shares or in treasury shares,
of the Company subject to the provisions of the Articles of Incorporation.
ARTICLE XI
Reserves
Section 1. There may be created by resolution of the Board of Directors
out of the earned surplus of the Company such reserve or reserves as the
Directors from time to time, in their discretion, think proper to provide for
contingencies, or to equalize dividends, or to repair or maintain any property
of the Company, or for such other purpose as the Directors shall think
beneficial to the Company, and the Directors may modify or abolish any such
reserve in the manner in which it was created.
ARTICLE XII
Seal
Section 1. The Company's seal shall have inscribed thereon the name of the
Company and the words "Corporate Seal, Texas." Said seal may be used by causing
it or a facsimile thereof to be impressed or affixed or reproduced or otherwise.
ARTICLE XIII
Indemnification
Section 1. The Company shall indemnify, and advance or reimburse
reasonable expenses incurred by, any person who (1) is or was a director or
officer of the Company or (2) while a director or officer of the Company, its
divisions or subsidiaries, is or was serving at the request of the Company,
pursuant to a resolution adopted by the Board of Directors, as a director,
officer, partner, venturer, proprietor, trustee, employee, agent or similar
functionary of another foreign or domestic corporation, partnership, joint
venture, sole proprietorship, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise,
to the fullest extent that a Company may or is required to grant indemnification
to, or advance or reimburse reasonable expenses incurred by, a director under
the Act. The Company, pursuant to a resolution adopted by the Board of
Directors, may indemnify any such persons to such
Bylaws of EEX Corporation
As amended February 20, 2002
Page 14 of 17
further extent as permitted by law.
Section 2. The Company, pursuant to a resolution adopted by the Board of
Directors, may indemnify, and advance or reimburse reasonable expenses incurred
by, any other person to the fullest extent permitted under the Act.
Section 3. Action by the Board of Directors to amend, modify or terminate
ARTICLE XIII, Section 1 or Section 2, shall be prospective from the effective
date of such action and any rights or obligations resulting from an event or
events occurring prior thereto shall be governed by the provisions of Section 1
or Section 2, as the case may be, of this ARTICLE XIII as of the date of such
event or events.
ARTICLE XIV
Amendments
Section 1. The power to alter, amend, suspend or repeal the Bylaws or to
adopt new Bylaws shall be vested in, and shall require the approval of, the
majority of Continuing Directors then in office; provided, however, that any
Bylaw or Amendment thereto as adopted by the Board of Directors may be altered,
amended, suspended or repealed by the vote of the holders of 662/3% of the
shares entitled to vote for the election of Directors or a new Bylaw in lieu
thereof may be adopted by vote of such shareholders. No Bylaw which has been
altered, amended or adopted by such a vote of the shareholders may be altered,
amended, suspended or repealed by vote of the Directors until two years after
such action by vote of the shareholders.
ARTICLE XV
Restrictions on Foreign Ownership
Section 1. The purpose of this Article XV is to limit ownership and
control of shares of any class of capital stock of the Company by persons who
are not Eligible Citizens in order to permit the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries to conduct its business as a U.S. Mineral Lessee. The Board of
Directors is hereby authorized to adopt such resolutions, and to effect any and
all other measures reasonably necessary or desirable (consistent with applicable
law and the provisions of the Articles of Incorporation) to fulfill the purpose
and implement the restrictions of this Article XV, including without limitation,
requiring, as a condition precedent to the transfer of shares on the records of
the Company, representations and other proof as to the identity of existing or
prospective shareholders and persons on whose behalf of shares of any class of
capital stock of the Company or any interest therein or right thereof are or are
to be held and as to whether or not such persons are Eligible Citizens.
Section 2. Any transfer, or attempted or purported transfer, of any shares
of any class of
Bylaws of EEX Corporation
As amended February 20, 2002
Page 15 of 17
capital stock issued by the Company or any interest therein or right thereof,
which would result in the ownership or control by one or more non-Eligible
Citizens of the shares of any class of capital stock of the Company or of any
interest or right therein will, until such condition no longer exists, be void
and will be ineffective as against the Company and the Company will not
recognize the purported transferee as a shareholder of the Company for any
purpose other than the transfer of such shares to a person who is an Eligible
Citizen provided, however, that such shares may nevertheless be deemed to be
shares held or owned by non-Eligible Citizens for the purposes of this Article
XV.
Section 3. No shares of the outstanding capital stock of the Company or
any class thereof transferred to, or acquired or held by, a non-Eligible Citizen
shall be entitled to receive or accrue any rights with respect to any dividends
or other distributions of assets declared payable or paid to the holders of such
capital stock during such period. Furthermore, no shares held by or for the
benefit of any non-Eligible Citizen will be entitled to vote with respect to any
matter submitted to stockholders of the Company so long as such condition
exists.
Section 4. If at any time (i) the Company is named, or is threatened to be
named, as a party in a judicial or administrative proceeding that seeks the
cancellation or forfeiture of any property, lease, right or license in which the
Company has an interest or (ii) if, in the opinion of the Board of Directors,
the Company's ability to hold any property, lease, right or license would be
prohibited or restricted because of the nationality, citizenship, residence, or
other status, of any shareholder of the Company (or, in the case of a
shareholder which is a Company, partnership or association, of any shareholder,
owner, partner or member of such shareholder), the Company may redeem the shares
held by such shareholder at the then Current Market Price and upon such terms as
shall be determined by the Board of Directors, in their sole discretion.
Section 5. "Current Market Price" per share of capital stock of the
Company on any date is the average of the Quoted Prices of such class of capital
stock during the four trading weeks before the date in question. In the absence
of one or more such quotations, the Board of Directors shall determine the
current market price on the basis of such quotations as it considers
appropriate.
"Eligible Citizen" means any person (including a Company, partnership or
other entity) whose ownership, holding or control of shares in the Company would
not, by reason of such person's citizenship or the citizenship of its members or
owners or otherwise, (1) disqualify the Company or any of its Subsidiaries from
owning, acquiring, holding, possessing, or leasing oil, gas or other minerals,
mineral deposits, land, vessels or any other property, licenses, or rights of
any nature whatsoever in federal lands or leases under federal laws and
regulations in effect from time to time, or (2) violate any other qualifications
as the Board of Directors deems in its reasonable discretion are necessary or
appropriate to permit the Company and its Subsidiaries to engage in any other
business activities for which there may be qualifications or restrictions on
shareholders of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries applicable under federal
or state law. A person is an Eligible Citizen if the applicable following
requirement is met: (1) for an individual, that he is native-born, naturalized
or a derivative Citizen of the United States or otherwise qualifies as a United
States citizen; (2) for a Company, that is organized or existing under the laws
of the United States, a state, the District of Columbia or United States
territory or possession, that at least 75% of the ownership
Bylaws of EEX Corporation
As amended February 20, 2002
Page 16 of 17
interest in, and the voting power over, the Company is held by Eligible
Citizens, that the Company's president or other chief executive officer and the
chairman of its board of directors are United States citizens and that no more
than a minority of the number of directors required to constitute a quorum are
non-United States citizens; (3) for a partnership, that all of the interests in
the partnership, are owned by Eligible Citizens; (4) for a trust, that each of
its trustees and each of its beneficiaries is an Eligible Citizen; and (5) for
an association, joint venture, or other entity, that all members, venturers or
other equity participants are Eligible Citizens and that such association, joint
venture or other entity is capable of holding leases or other interest in
federal minerals or lands under the laws of the United States.
"Quoted Price" means, with respect to any class of capital stock of the
Company, the last reported sales price regular way or, in case no such reported
sale takes place on such day, the average of the closing bid and asked prices
regular way for such day, in each case on the principal national securities
exchange on which the shares of such class of capital stock are listed or
admitted to trading or, if not listed or admitted to trading, the last sale
price regular way for such shares as published by NASDAQ, or if such last price
is not so published by NASDAQ or if no such sale takes place on such day, the
mean between the closing bid and asked prices for such shares as published by
NASDAQ or in the absence of any of the foregoing, the fair market value as
determined by the Board of Directors.
"Subsidiary" means any Company more than 50% of the outstanding capital
stock of which is owned by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company.
"U.S. Mineral Lessee" means any Company or other entity directly or
indirectly owning, acquiring, holding, possessing, or leasing oil, gas or other
minerals, mineral deposits, lands, vessels or any other property, licenses, or
rights of any nature whatsoever in federal lands or leases under federal laws
and regulations in effect from time to time, including, without limitation, the
Mineral Leasing Act of 1920, as amended, 30 U.S.C.A. (S)181 et seq.
Bylaws of EEX Corporation
As amended February 20, 2002
Page 17 of 17